Variable blazed grating

ABSTRACT

In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/776,051,entitled “Variable Blazed Grating, ” filed Feb. 2, 2001 now U.S. Pat.No. 6,445,502.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of communication systems, andmore particularly to an apparatus and method operable to facilitatesignal processing using variable blazed grating based elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As optical systems continue to increase the volume and speed ofinformation communicated, the need for methods and apparatus operable tofacilitate high speed optical signal processing also escalates. Variousdevices and methodologies have been developed to provide numerous signalprocessing capabilities on optical signals. Some of these devicesattempt to control a diffraction of an input optical signal tofacilitate basic signal processing functions.

One such approach uses an optical switching device having a plurality ofadjacent reflective strips disposed above a conductive inner surface. Inone state of operation, the adjacent reflective strips remain in asingle plane and substantially reflect optical signals received. Inanother mode of operation, alternate adjacent strips are pulled downparallel to the inner surface to create a bi-planar diffraction grating.The resulting two parallel planes of reflective strips creatediffraction of the input optical signal in numerous directions.Diffracted portions of the input signal can be detected and used as amodified output signal.

This approach suffers from a number of deficiencies. For example, wherea normal incident input signal is used, the power of the output signalis split equally between the two first order beams, which are diffractedin different directions. This results in difficulties maintaining twosubstantially equal outputs, because only a small portion of thediffracted signal can be recovered using a single detector or a singlefiber. Recovering additional portions of the diffracted signal typicallyrequires collecting diffracted portions traveling in numerous directionsand recombining them. This approach typically results in additionalsystem components, complexity and cost.

Another approach to diffraction based signal processing involvesorienting a solid membrane diffraction grating at an angle to theincoming optical signal to cause a majority of the diffracted outputsignal to travel in one direction. Early variable blazed gratingapparatus attempted to implement deformable membranes that could beselectively deformed to cause diffraction substantially in onedirection. Supporting the membranes in these devices required use of anelastomeric substance under the entire membrane, which contacted theentire membrane. The combination of a large area membrane and aconfining supporting material generally resulted in slow deviceoperation and large required drive voltages.

Recently, variable blazed gratings have been used in spectral analyzersto improve the frequency sensitivity of those devices by directing highpowered optical beams in specific directions. These devices use a seriesof adjacent slats (typically ranging from 50,000 nanometers to 80,000nanometers in width) that are capable of rotating by a very small amountto direct low order diffraction modes in a specific direction. The highpower of the incident beams in this application generally requires thatthe slats be constructed as wide as possible. The large width of theslats severely limits the blaze angle (less than two degrees) that canbe obtained using this approach. In addition, the width of the slatssignificantly limits the frequency at which these devices can changestates, and increases the drive voltage necessary to rotate the slats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention recognizes a need for a method and apparatusoperable to economically facilitate high speed optical signalprocessing. In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus andmethod operable to facilitate optical signal processing are providedthat substantially reduce or eliminate at least some of the shortcomingsassociated with prior approaches.

In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide opticalsignal processing comprises an inner conductive layer comprising an atleast substantially conductive material and a plurality of at leastpartially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the innerconductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal. Noneof the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns and atleast some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation inresponse to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in adiffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of thediffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of processing opticalsignals using a blazed grating comprises receiving an optical signal ata plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips residing in afirst position, none of the plurality of strips having a width of morethan 40 microns. The method further comprises rotating the mirror stripsby an angle THETA from the first position to create a plurality ofdiffracted signal portions. The majority of the diffracted signalportions are diffracted in one direction.

In still another aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable toprovide optical signal processing comprises an inner conductive layercomprising an at least substantially conductive material and a pluralityof at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly fromthe inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input opticalsignal. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partialrotation of more than two degrees in response to a control signal, thepartial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signalwherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in onedirection.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of processing opticalsignals using a blazed grating comprises receiving an optical signal ata plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips residing in afirst position. The method further comprises rotating the mirror fromthe first position to create a plurality of diffracted signal portions,the majority of the diffracted signal portions being diffracted in onedirection, the strips having a maximum rotation angle that is greaterthan two degrees.

Depending on the specific features implemented, particular embodimentsof the present invention may exhibit some, none, or all of the followingtechnical advantages. One aspect of the present invention provides aneffective and cost efficient mechanism for facilitating high speedsignal processing using a diffraction based technology while reducing oreliminating at least some of shortcomings typically associated withdiffraction based signal processing. For example, particular embodimentsof the invention facilitate diffraction based signal processing thatmaintains good contrast ratios without requiring the additional beamcollection and/or combining technology often associated with otherapproaches. In addition, implementing narrow strips compared to the wideslats used in other approaches facilitates a wide range of blaze angles,reduces the drive voltage required to rotate the strips, and increasesthe resolution of the resulting output signal by increasing the numberof strips illuminated by the input beam.

The flexible operation of the invention facilitates its application inany number of signal processing applications, such as, variableattenuators, optical switches, optical add/drop multiplexers, andoptical routers, to name a few. Moreover, the invention facilitatesfabrication of arrays of variable blazed-grating based elements at anominal incremental cost over that of producing a single element. Thisaspect of the invention facilitates construction of, for example, gainequalizers and wave-division add/drop multiplexers capable of processingnumerous wavelengths for a small incremental cost over a single stage ofelements. This provides significant cost savings in processing signalscarrying information on multiple channels or wavelengths.

Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one of skill in theart from the attached figures, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and forfurther features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a-1 c are block diagrams illustrating greatly enlargedcross-section views of various exemplary embodiments of blazedgrating-based apparatus operable to facilitate high speed optical signalprocessing according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate planar views of one particular embodimentof an apparatus operable to facilitate high speed optical signalprocessing according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 a-c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing one exampleof a blazed grating device constructed according to the teachings of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 4 a-c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing anotherexample of a blazed grating device constructed according to theteachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 a-c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing stillanother example of a blazed grating device constructed according to theteachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 a-c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing yet anotherexample of a blazed grating device constructed according to theteachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b illustrate blazed grating based variable opticalattenuators constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a novel combination of a variableblazed grating and an optical circulator constructed according to theteachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 a -b are block diagrams illustrating examples of blazed gratingbased 1×2 optical switches constructed according to the teachings of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 10 a-10 d are block diagrams illustrating various modes ofoperation of a blazed grating based 2×2 optical switch constructedaccording to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 11 a-11 h are block diagrams illustrating examples of variousembodiments of blazed grating based optical add/drop multiplexersconstructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing one example of a novel system forfacilitating multiple-wavelength signal processing according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 13 a-13 b are block diagrams illustrating examples of variousembodiments of a blazed grating based optical gain equalizer constructedaccording to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 14 a and 14 b are block diagrams illustrating example embodimentsof blazed grating based wavelength division optical add/drop multiplexerconstructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary blazed grating basedelectro-optic router constructed according to the teachings of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating one example of a method of opticalsignal processing using a blazed grating based apparatus according tothe teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a variable blazed grating device is an element having adiffraction grating that can be selectively displaced relative to anincoming optical signal, with the result that the majority of thediffracted portions of the optical signal are communicated in onedirection. One aspect of the present invention relates to a novelconfiguration of a variable blazed grating device.

FIG. 1 a shows a cross-section view of one exemplary embodiment of avariable blazed grating-based apparatus 100 operable to facilitate highspeed optical signal processing. Throughout this document, the term“signal processing” includes attenuation, switching, phase shifting, orany other manipulation of one or more optical signals.

In this example, apparatus 100 includes a substrate 12 and a pluralityof strips 14 disposed outwardly from substrate 12. In a particularembodiment, substrate 12 comprises a semiconductor substrate formed, forexample, from silicon. Other materials could be used for substrate 12without departing from the scope of the invention.

Each strip 14 has a width (W_(s)), and is separated from adjacent stripsby a distance (d). The width (W_(s)) and the distance (d) define aperiodicity associated with the strips. Multiple strips 14 are operableto receive a single input optical signal 20 having a beam width (W_(b)).Strips 14 are sized and spaced from one another in a manner to ensurethat the width (W_(b)) of received optical beam 20 covers at least twostrips 14. In this example, strips 14 residing at position 14′ arespaced from substrate 12 by a distance 16. Although strips 14 are shownas generally rectangular in shape, any shape can be used consistent withthe invention. In addition, although strips 14 are shown as having aconstant width (W_(s)), that measurement could vary between strips, oreven along the same strip 14.

As one particular non-limiting example of particular dimensions, thewidth of optical beam 20 may comprise approximately 21,000 nanometers,while each strip 14 comprises a width of approximately 3,000 nanometers(3 microns) and is spaced from adjacent strips 14 by approximately 600nanometers. In this particular example, strips 14 are spaced fromsubstrate 12 by approximately 2000 nanometers. These dimensions areprovided for illustrative purposes only. Other device dimensions andconfigurations could be used without departing from the scope of theinvention.

At least outer surface 15 of each strip 14 comprises an at leastpartially reflective material. It is not necessary for surface 15 to becompletely or even mostly reflective. Of course, the more reflective thematerial or materials comprising outer surface 15, the less lossy thedevice will be. Reflective surface 15 may comprise the outer surface ofstrips 14 where strips 14 are formed from a reflective material. Forexample, strips 14 may be formed from a metal, such as aluminum,chromium, or gold. As a further example, strips 14 could be formed frompolysilicon formed at a thickness sufficient to render the strips atleast partially reflective of at least the wavelengths being processedby apparatus 100. Other materials could be used to form strips 14without departing from the scope of the invention.

In another embodiment, reflective surface 15 may comprise a layer ofreflective material disposed outwardly from another layer of strip 14.For example, strips 14 could be formed from a material, such as, siliconnitride, and a layer of partially reflective material 15 could be formedoutwardly from strip 14. In that embodiment, the layer of materialsupporting layer may, but need not be reflective of the incidentsignals.

FIG. 1 b illustrates one example of operation of apparatus 100. In thisexample, strips 14 receive optical input beam 20 at an angle normal tothe surface of strips 14 at position 14.′ Strips 14 at position 14′(shown in dotted lines) show apparatus 100 operating in 15 “reflectionmode,” where strips 14 operate to reflect input optical beam 20 asreflected signal 24. In this case, because input beam 20 is orientednormally to the surfaces of strips 14, reflected beam 24 is communicatedback in the same direction from which input beam 20 originated. As willbe discussed below, non-normal input angles could also be used.

Strips at positions 14″ (shown in solid lines) depict strips 14 during asecond mode of operation, “diffraction mode.” In diffraction mode,strips 14 are each rotated by approximately a blaze angle THETA from theoriginal position of strips 14. In a particular embodiment, strips 14can obtain a maximum blaze angle that is greater than two degrees.Implementing a design that facilitates a wide range of strip rotationprovides significant advantages over other approaches by, for example,providing flexibility in system configuration. Input optical beam 20impinges on surfaces 15 of strips 14. In this example, a first portionof input optical beam 20 impinges on strip 14 a, while a second portionof beam 20 impinges on strip 14 b, which is adjacent to strip 14 a.While beam 20 may experience some scattering, because of the rotation ofstrips 14 to position 14″, the majority of the diffracted portions ofinput beam 20 are directed in one direction, as illustrated (at least inpart) by output rays 30 and 32.

Output ray 30 represents the portion of input beam 20 reflected by strip14 a at position 14″ and output beam 32 represents the portion of inputbeam 20 that is reflected by strip 14 b at position 14″. Although FIG. 1b shows just two output rays 30 and 32, it should be appreciated thatany strips 14′ that receive a portion of input beam 20 will reflect anoutput portion in the direction indicated by arrows 30 and 32.

Because output rays 30 and 32 result from diffractions from surfaceslaterally offset from one another and positioned at an angle to inputbeam 20, output rays 30 and 32 experience a relative difference(d_(path)) in their path lengths. This path length difference (d_(path))results in a phase difference between the output rays. For a givenwavelength and strip periodicity, apparatus 100 can introduce any levelof phase difference between output rays by varying the angle THETA bywhich the strips 14 are rotated. When using a normal incident input beam20, the diffracted output signal comprising a combination of diffractedrays, such as 30 and 32, is at a maximum when the path differenced_(path) corresponds to one wavelength (or an integral multiple ofwavelengths) of beam 20. Other path differences d_(path) result in anattenuation of the output signal compared to the maximum condition.

FIG. 1 c illustrates another example of operation of apparatus 100. Inthis example, strips 14 receive optical input beam 20 at a non-normalangle PHI. In this particular example, the angle of incidence PHI ofinput beam 20 is equal to the angle of diffraction of output rays 30 and32. As a result, the diffracted output rays travel back in the samedirection as input beam 20. This condition is commonly referred to asthe Littrow case.

In this embodiment, apparatus 100 operates in reflection mode whenstrips 14 reside at positions 14′. In that mode, input beam 20 impingeson strips 14 at angle PHI and is reflected as shown by output beamportion 24 at an angle of 180 degrees minus PHI. In diffraction mode,strips 14 reside at positions 14″ at an angle THETA from position 14′.In this case, grazing angle PHI is selected to result in a diffractionangle that is approximately equal to the incident angle (ninety degreesminus PHI), resulting in input beam 20 being diffracted back inapproximately the same direction as the origin of input beam 20, asshown by output rays 30 and 32.

Again, output rays 30 and 32 experience a relative path difference,which results in a relative phase shift between the signal portions. Inthis case, the beam portions experience a path difference before andafter impinging on strips 14. As a result, the parallel distance betweenstrips 14 at positions 14″ equals one half of the resulting pathdifference. Operating blazed grating devices using non-normal incidentangles—such as in the Littrow condition—can provide an advantage offacilitating the necessary phase shift between output rays whilerequiring only a portion of the strip rotation otherwise required. Thisresults in less required drive voltage and more economical operation.Alternatively, the same drive voltage can be used with more rigidstrips, facilitating faster device operation.

Previous systems using variable blazed gratings either implementedcontinuous deformable membranes or implemented mutiple-piece membranesrequiring very wide slats (typically ranging in width from nearly 60,000nanometers (60 microns) to over 80,000 nanometers (80 microns)). Thesystems using slats require wide slats due to the high power of theoptical signals being redirected and, as a consequence, are severelylimited in their ability to rotate to change the blaze angle (typicallylimited to a maximum blaze angle of approximately 1.8 degrees).

One aspect of the present invention uses narrow strips, no wider than40,000 nanometers (40 microns), to ensure greater blaze anglecapabilities, lower drive voltage, and faster operation, whilemaintaining good contrast ratios and high output beam resolution ascompared to other approaches.

The maximum switching speed, the minimum required drive voltages, andthe maximum attainable blaze angle depend, at least in part, on thewidth of strips 14 and the ratio of that width to the space 16separating strips 14 from substrate 12 (or another layer disposedoutwardly from substrate 12). These devices operate by introducing apath difference d_(path) between diffracted signal portions to create adesired phase shift between the portions. The path difference istypically some fraction of a wavelength of the signal being processed.In a particular embodiment, the spacing 16 can be selected to facilitatea maximum strip displacement of approximately one wavelength of thesignal being processed. This facilitates introduction of any pathdifference up to a full wavelength of the signal.

For a given wavelength signal, the strip width and maximum stripdisplacement can be selected to provide any desired blaze angle. Typicaltelecommunication signals have wavelengths of approximately 1400-1600nanometers. The following table shows example values of strip widthsthat can be useful using, for example, a 1400 nanometer maximum stripdisplacement.

Assuming maximum strip displacement=1400 nanometers,

Maximum Blaze Angle Strip Width   2 degrees   40 microns   5 degrees  16 microns 7.5 degrees 10.6 microns  10 degrees  7.9 microns  15degrees  5.3 microns  20 degrees  3.8 microns  25 degrees  3.0 microns 30 degrees  2.4 microns  45 degrees  1.4 microns

The foregoing table is intended to provide example dimensions only.Other device configurations could be used using other spacings 16, stripwidths, and/or maximum blaze angles.

Various aspects of the present invention provide advantages overprevious approaches by providing blazed grating having a number ofnarrow strips. Narrow strips facilitate larger maximum blaze angles fora given distance 16 from substrate 12. This provides increasedflexibility in component configuration for applications using thesedevices. In addition, the narrow width of strips 14 allows the strips tobe placed closer to substrate 12 while maintaining flexibility in theattainable blaze angles. Placing the strips closer to substrate 12provides an advantage of reducing the energy needed to rotate the strips(whether in the form of an electrostatic force between the strips andthe substrate or in the form of a forced caused by thermal expansion ofa material between the substrate and the strips).

Moreover, reducing the width of strips 14 facilitates faster deviceoperation and lower drive voltages. Using a number of narrow strips 14further provides an advantage of increasing the resolution of thediffracted output of the device. One aspect of the invention recognizesthat the resolution of the output signal comprising the majority of thediffracted portions of input beam 20 increases as the number of stripsilluminated by input beam 20 increases. This aspect of the invention,therefore, facilitates enhancing the resolution of the diffracted outputby sizing strips 14 so that input beam 20 illuminates a number of strips14.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the ability of blazed gratingapparatus 100 to selectively attenuate and/or switch optical input beamsquickly, while requiring a low drive voltage and maintaining a goodcontrast ratio renders apparatus 100 useful in a myriad of applications,such as variable attenuators, gain equalizers, optical switches, andoptical add/drop multiplexers, to name a few.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate planar views of one particular embodimentof apparatus 100. As shown in these figures, strips 14 can be anchoredto substrate 12 at anchor points 17. In this embodiment, anchor pointshave a width (W_(a)) that is smaller than the width (W_(s)) of at leasta portion of strip 14. In this manner, strips 14 operate to undergo apartial rotation as shown in FIG. 2 b when a force (F) is applied to oneside of each strip 14. Apparatus 100 controls the grating angle THETA byapplying a selected level of force (F) in selected locations of strips14. Other methods of anchoring strips 14 to facilitate rotation could beused consistent with the invention.

FIGS. 3 a-c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing one exampleof a mechanism operable to generate and apply a force (F) to cause apartial rotation of strips 14 in a blazed grating apparatus 105. Theillustrated embodiment assumes that force (F) is an electrostatic forcegenerated by a voltage differential between an inner conductive layerand at least a portion of grating 14. Alternatively, force (F) couldcomprise a force pushing up on strips 14 and created by applying a heatsource to the inner conductive layer causing that layer to physicallyexpand and push up on a portion of strip 14, causing strip 14 to rotate.In that embodiment, the inner conductive layer could be considerablythicker than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 a-3c.

Apparatus 105 is similar in structure and operation to apparatus 100shown in FIGS. 1-2. In one particular embodiment, strips 14 can beconstructed from an at least substantially conductive material. Forexample, strips 14 may be formed from a metal such as aluminum, gold, ortitanium, or may be formed from polysilicon. Where strips 14 are formedfrom polysilicon, the strips may, if desired, be doped to achieveadditional conductivity.

The illustrated embodiment of apparatus 105 includes an inner conductivelayer 40, which in this case takes the form of a plurality of elongatedconductors, each disposed inwardly from one side of(perhaps along anedge 38 of) strip 14 that is desired to be pulled toward substrate 12.Each conductor of inner conductive layer 40 may be formed, for example,from a metal such as aluminum, chromium, or gold. Other at leastsubstantially conductive materials could be used without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Although this example assumes creation of anelectrostatic force (F), similar results could be obtained by thermallyexpanding the inner conductive layer to cause a rotation in strip 14.

By applying a voltage difference between conductors 40 and strips 14desired to be rotated, an electrostatic force (F) is generated that actsto pull edge 38 of strip 14 toward conductor 40. This, in turn, operatesto partially rotate strip 14 as shown in FIG. 3 c. The voltagedifference between strips 14 and conductors 40 may be established, forexample, by grounding strips 14 while applying a voltage to conductors40, grounding conductors 40 while applying a voltage to strips 14, orapplying a differential voltage between strips 14 and conductors 40. Inthe illustrated example, a common voltage (or ground) is applied to allstrips 14. Alternatively, selected strips 14 could be rotated whileothers remain stationary.

FIGS. 4 a-4 c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing anotherexample of a mechanism operable to generate and apply a force (F) tocause a partial rotation of strips 114 in an apparatus 110. In thisexample, strips 114 are similar in function to strips 14 of FIGS. 1-3.However, in this case, strips 114 each comprise a multi-layeredstructure. In this example, each strip 114 includes a layer ofinsulating material 113. Insulating material 113 may comprise, forexample, silicon nitride, oxide, or any other substantially insulatingmaterial.

In the illustrated embodiment, a layer 117 of material that is at leastpartially reflective is formed outwardly from layer 113 of insulatingmaterial. For example, layer 117 may comprise a metal or dopedpolysilicon. Layer 117 includes a first portion 115 and a second portion118. Portions 115 and 118 are electrically separated, in this example bya channel 116. Channel 116 may comprise an open channel, or may befilled with an insulating material, such as oxide, or silicon nitride.

Portions 115 and 118 may be formed, for example by first forming acontinuous layer 117 of material, and then etching channel 116 to formthe first and second portions on either side of channel 116.Alternatively, portions 115 and 118 may be formed by first maskingchannel 116, and then forming first and second portions 115 and 118 14on either side of channel 116. First and second portions 115 and 118may, but need not be formed from the same material.

Blazed grating apparatus 110, like apparatus 105, also includes an innerconductive layer. While apparatus 105 includes an inner conductive layer40 in the form of a plurality of elongated conductors, apparatus 110comprises an inner conductive layer 140 in the form of a continuousconductor layer disposed outwardly from substrate 12. In an alternativeembodiment, inner conductive layer 140 could comprise substrate 12,where substrate 12 comprises a substantially conductive material, suchas metal or doped polysilicon. Inner conductive layer 40 may compriseany configuration of at least substantially conductive material operableto cause a partial rotation of some or all of strips 14.

As illustrated, for example, by FIGS. 4 b and 4 c, first portion 115 ofreflective conducting layer 117 is at least substantially electricallyisolated from inner conductive layer 140. Second portion 118 ofreflective conducting layer 117, however, is electrically coupled toinner conductive layer 140, in this case, by physically contacting thatlayer at region 119. This construction, and others similar to it,maintain a partially reflective outer surface of strips 114, whilefacilitating creation of a voltage differential between inner conductivelayer 140 and only the edges of strips 114 that carry first portions 115of conductive reflecting layer 117. This, in turn, facilitates partialrotation of strips 114 upon application of a differential voltagebetween inner conductive layer 140 and first portions 115 of strips 114.

In operation, blazed grating apparatus 110 receives optical input beam20, in this example, at a normal angle of incidence. Although thisdescription assumes a normal angle of incidence for optical beam 20,non-normal incident angles could be used without departing from thescope of the invention. In reflection mode (as indicated in FIG. 4 a bydashed lines) apparatus 110 substantially reflects input optical beam 20back in the same direction as output beam 24. In diffraction mode,apparatus 110 diffracts input optical beam 20 primarily in a directionas indicated by output rays 30 and 32. By varying the angle THETAbetween strip position 114′ position 114″, apparatus 110 can control thephase difference introduced between rays 30 and 32, and thereforecontrol the intensity of the output signal.

In this example, rotation of strips 114 is accomplished by creating avoltage differential between inner conductive layer 140 and firstportion 115 of reflective conducting layer 117. Because second portion118 of reflective conducting layer 117 is electrically coupled to innerconductive layer 140, little or no electrostatic force is generatedbetween inner conductive layer 140 and second portion 118 of reflectiveconducting layer 117. Because, however, first portion 115 of reflectiveconducting layer 117 is electrically isolated from inner conductivelayer 140, a voltage difference between those substantially conductingstructures creates an electrostatic force, which operates to pull firstportion 115 toward inner conductive layer 140. This, in turn, operatesto partially rotate strip 114, causing diffraction of the majority ofinput beam 20 in one direction as indicated by output rays 30 and 32.The example shown in FIG. 4 is intended to illustrate one possibleembodiment of apparatus 110. Various changes to the configuration andmaterials described herein could be made without departing from thescope of the invention.

FIGS. 5 a-5 c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing stillanother example of a mechanism operable to generate and apply a force(F) to cause a partial rotation of strips 14 in a blazed gratingapparatus 115. In addition, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 a-c operatesto cause alternate strips 14 to not only partially rotate, but also tomove in their entirety toward substrate 12. The result of thisalternating strip translation is a diffraction mode of operation whereinall strips 14 are partially rotated, and wherein alternate strips residein different planes relative to their adjacent strips 14. Thisconfiguration can provide additional phase shift between diffractedoutput rays for a given angle THETA of strip rotation.

In this example, strips 14 are similar in structure and function tostrips 14 shown in FIGS. 3 a-3 c. Strips 14 may comprise any material orcombination of materials operable to render an at least substantiallyconductive and at least partially reflective strip 14. The illustratedembodiment of apparatus 115 includes an inner conductive layer 240.Inner conductive layer 240 in this embodiment, comprises alternatingsets of single elongated conductors 48 and pairs 50 of conductor sets 44and 46, all disposed outwardly from substrate 12. Single elongatedconductors 48 and conductors 46 of set of conductors 50 resideapproximately inwardly from the edges of strips 14 desired to be rotatedtoward substrate 12. Conductors 46 also reside inwardly from strips 14,but are electrically separated from conductors 44. The illustratedembodiment provides just one example of a conductor configurationoperable to achieve the above-described results. Other configurationscould be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

In operation, where it is desired to switch blazed rating apparatus 115from a reflection mode to a diffraction mode, a voltage differential iscreated between strips 14 and inner conductive layer 240. In thisparticular embodiment, a first voltage differential is created betweenstrips 14 and conductors 26, and a second and larger voltagedifferential is created between strips 14 and conductors 44 and 48.Creating a voltage differential between edges 38 of each strip and theconductors 44 and 48 residing inwardly from those edges causes allstrips to rotate. In addition, creating a voltage differential betweenall or a portion of the remainder of alternated strip cross sections andconductors 46 causes alternate strips to move inwardly relative toadjacent strips. By creating a larger voltage differential betweenstrips 14 and conductors 44,48 (which pull edges 38 toward substrate 12)than the differential between strips 14 and conductors 46 (which pulledges opposite edges 38 of the alternate strips toward substrate 12),this arrangement facilitates rotating all strips 14 while pullingalternate strips 14 closer to inner conductive layer 240 than adjacentstrips 14.

In a reflection mode of operation, blazed grating apparatus 115 receivesoptical input beam 20, and reflects beam 20 at an angle equal to theangle of incidence of beam 20. Where strips 14 receive beam 20 at anormal incident angle, output beam 24 is reflected at an angle normal tostrips 14. In a diffraction mode of operation, all strips 14 partiallyrotate toward substrate 12, and alternate strips 14 move inwardly towardsubstrate 12. The motion of strips 14 results in a phase shift betweenportions of the output beam, which may create constructive ordestructive interference, depending on the grating angle THETA andamount of relative motion between adjacent strips.

Although this example describes a normal incident input beam, otherangles of incidence could be used.

FIGS. 6 a-6 c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing stillanother embodiment of a blazed grating apparatus 120. Blazed gratingapparatus 120, in this embodiment, includes a plurality of adjacentstrips 214 disposed outwardly from substrate 12. In this example, eachstrip 214 has an approximately triangular shaped cross-section. Eachstrip comprises an outer surface 215 formed at an angle THETA to itsinner surface 211. In a particular embodiment, each strip 214 may beformed from one or more at least partially reflective and at leastsubstantially conductive materials.

Strips 214 may be formed, for example, by repeatedly disposing layers ofconductive reflective material, one on top of the other, and after eachnew layer is disposed, etching a portion of the new layer to expose aportion of the underlying layer. By repeating those processing steps, astaircase-like structure can be formed comprising numerous layers ofreflective conductive material, wherein the staircase provides anapproximate angle THETA measured from the base of the staircase to itstop point.

Apparatus 120 includes an inner conductive layer 340 disposed outwardlyfrom substrate 12 and inwardly from strips 214. In this embodiment,inner conductive layer 340 comprises a plurality of at leastsubstantially conductive strips 340 disposed inwardly from alternatestrips 214. As a particular example, conductors of inner conductivelayer 340 may comprise strips having a width approximately equal to thewidth of strips 214. Other configurations of inner conductive layer 340may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

In operation, blazed grating apparatus 120 receives optical beam 20, inthis case at a normal incident angle, and diffracts optical beam 20 sothat a majority of the diffracted beam travels in one direction as shownby output rays 30 and 32. When strips 214 reside at location 214′, apath difference (d_(path1)) is created between output rays. For a givenwavelength and a given strip periodicity, the path difference betweenoutput beam portions is dependent on the angle THETA that outer surface215 of strips 214 makes with inner surface 211 of strips 214. In onemode of operation, this angle THETA can be selected, for example, toprovide a path difference of one wavelength of optical beam 20 whenstrips 214 reside at position 214′. In that case, the diffracted outputrays constructively interfere to render a maximum intensity output.

In a diffraction mode, alternate strips 214 are pulled toward substrate12. This may be accomplished, for example, by creating a differentialvoltage between alternate strips 214 and conducting strips 340corresponding to those strips 214. Pulling alternate strips 214 towardsubstrate 12 creates an increased path difference (d_(path2)) betweenoutput rays 30 and 32. This increased path difference results in afurther phase difference between output rays 30 and 32.

The variable blazed grating apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1-6 can beuseful in a myriad of applications. For example, FIGS. 7 a and 7 billustrate variable optical attenuators using blazed grating technology.In particular, FIG. 7 a illustrates a variable attenuator 500 operableto receive optical input beam 20 at a normal incident angle and tointroduce any desired amount of attenuation into that signal bycontrolling the grazing angle THETA between blazed grating 10 atposition 14′ and position 14″.

For a given wavelength of optical beam 20 and for a given periodicity ofblazed grating 14, variable attenuator 500 can control the amount ofphase shift between output rays 30 and 32 by selectively controlling theangle THETA of blazed grating 10 between position 14′ and 14″. Blazedgrating 10 residing at position 14″ operates to diffract the majority ofinput optical beam 20 in substantially one direction. Path differencesbetween diffracted output rays result in interference, affecting theintensity of the output beam.

For example, where diffracted rays 30 and 32 are used as an output andwhen using an approximately normal incident input signal, by choosing anangle THETA to result in a path difference (d_(path)) of one wavelength,output rays 30 and 32 constructively interfere with one another,maximizing the intensity of the output beam. At the opposite end of thespectrum, by choosing an angle THETA to result in a path difference(d_(path)) of one-half wavelength (or an odd multiple thereof), outputrays 30 and 32 destructively interfere with each other to completelycancel the output beam. Selectively controlling the position of blazedgrating 10 through a control voltage attenuator 500 to provide any levelof output signal between zero and maximum intensity. The foregoingexample has assumed that diffracted rays 30 and 32 are used as an outputto attenuator 500.

Alternatively, reflected rays, such as ray 24 could serve as the outputto attenuator 500. In that embodiment, the intensity of rays 24 is amaximum when blazed grating 10 operates to reflect substantially all ofinput beam 20. As the diffraction efficiency of blazed grating 30increases, the intensity of reflected output rays 24 generallydecreases. Blazed grating 10 can, therefore, selectively attenuateoutput rays 24 relative to input beam 20 by changing its position inresponse to a control signal thereby changing the diffraction efficiencyof diffracted rays 30 and 32, and the intensity of reflected rays 24.

FIG. 7 b illustrates another variable attenuator 510. Variableattenuator 510 is similar in structure to variable attenuator 500 shownin FIG. 7 a. Variable attenuator 510, however, operates with an inputoptical beam 20 having a non-normal incident angle. In particular, inthis embodiment variable attenuator 510 operates in the Littrowcondition where the angle of incidence of optical beam 20 equals theangle of diffraction of output portions 30 and 32. As previouslydiscussed, this configuration facilitates attaining a given phasedifference while requiring only a portion of the blazed gratingdisplacement associated with other configurations.

Variable attenuators implementing blazed grating technology provide asignificant advantage of increasing the efficiency and performance ofthe device, by diffracting a majority of the input beam in a singledirection. For example, one embodiment of the invention increases theintensity of the output beam, without requiring additional opticalcomponents to collect and recombine diffracted output portions travelingin different directions.

By implementing variable blazed gratings, such as those depicted inFIGS. 1-6, one aspect of the invention facilitates true variability inattenuation by providing a plurality of strips having widths no greaterthan 40 microns, thus ensuring a wide selection of blaze angles. Unlikeother approaches, which are limited to blaze angles of less than twodegrees, and therefore limited variation in the amount of attenuationintroduced, this aspect of the invention provides an advantage of truevariable attenuation. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatusshown in FIGS. 1-6 can operate as a digital switch, for example, byconfiguring grating 14 to vary its position so that path difference(d_(path2)) results in an odd multiple of one-half wavelengths of theinput optical beam. In that manner, the apparatus can be operated toswitch between a first state where output rays constructively interfereto provide a maximum output and a second state where output raysdestructively interfere to reduce or eliminate the output beam.

By appropriate selection of, for example, material type, amounts ofmaterials, grating dimensions, strip tensions, and/or drive voltages,one aspect of the invention facilitates tuning of switching speeds tomaximize switching efficiency. This can be extremely useful in tuningswitching speeds to correspond to, for example, common informationpacket sizes.

For example, the following table shows IP packet sizes in bytes and thetotal number of packets percent bytes during the years 1998 and 1999.

PACKET SIZE TOTAL PACKETS TOTAL BYTES (IN BYTES) (%) (%) 40 38.9 4.41,500 11.5 4.7 552 10.1 15.8 44 6.1 0.8 576 4.9 7.9

This data shows that almost fifty percent of IP packets are between 40and 44 bytes long. Assuming a data rate of 2.5 Gigabytes per second,switching these packets takes approximately 128 nanoseconds. Thus, forcurrent packet sizes and data rates, a switching speed of approximately100 nanoseconds is desirable. Existing switching technologies are eithertoo expensive, or too slow for this application. For example, LithiumNiobate, semiconductor optical amplifiers, or electro-absorptionmodulators can switch in less than one nanosecond, a rate much fasterthan the optimal 100 nanosecond rate. These devices are prohibitivelyexpensive, particularly when compared to the present invention. Inaddition, these devices tend to be polarization sensitive. Liquidcrystal devices, thermo-optic devices, and micro-electro-optic switchesusing a single continuous membrane as a moveable mirror are capable ofswitching speeds of only up to one microsecond, too slow for optimaloperation. Likewise, approaches using wide slightly rotatable slats toform a variable diffraction grating for high power spectral analyzersare too slow and inflexible in configuration for these applications.

One aspect of the present invention facilitates tuning an optical switchelement to provide a desired switching speed. In a particularembodiment, the switch element can be tuned to provide a switching speedcommensurate with a specified packet size or range of packet sizes. Forexample, the switch element can be tuned to provide switching speedscommensurate with average packet sizes encountered by the switchelement. Various embodiments of the present invention facilitateswitching speeds of up to 20 nanoseconds, and can be tuned to provide anoptimum switching speed of, for example, approximately 100 to 300nanoseconds.

A separate aspect of the invention; which is not necessarily applicableto only those embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6 of this disclosure,recognizes that variable blazed gratings, both those described above andsome pre-existing designs, can be combined with other optical componentsin novel ways to provide useful optical signal processing functions. Forexample, FIG. 8 shows a system 531 using a variable blazed grating 10coupled to a circulator 502.

In some aspects of operation, variable blazed gratings operate toreflect or diffract signals along the signal path of the same or anotherinput signal. To avoid interference between the input signal and theoutput of the blazed grating, it is desirable to redirect the outputsignal from the path of the input signal. FIG. 8 shows an example of avariable blazed grating 10 receiving an optical input signal 520 at anormal incident angle to the grating. In this example, input signal 520is reflected back along the path of input signal 520 as an output signal504′. A circulator 502 receives the reflected signal 504′ and redirectsthat signal as output signal 504 away from the path of input 520.

Although this example shows input signal 520 received at a normalincident angle, this aspect of the invention is equally applicable tonon-normal incident angles. In addition, although this example showsoutput signal 504′ reflected back along the signal path of its own inputsignal, the invention can also apply to signals that are reflected ordiffracted into the input path of another optical signal. This aspect ofthe invention finds application anywhere an output signal is directedfrom a variable blazed grating into the path of an incoming signal.

System 531 advantageously couples a circulator with the variable blazedgrating to redirect the output signal 504′ without incurring a threedecibel loss between redirected output signal 504 and reflected outputsignal 054′, as has been the case in previous approaches using beamsplitters to redirect signals. In addition, circulator 502 operates toisolate reflected output signal 504′ from adversely affecting inputsignal 502. The unique combinations of variable blazed gratings andcirculators facilitates system configurations in optical switches,optical add/drop multiplexers, and wavelength division add/dropmultiplexers to name a few examples.

FIGS. 9 a-9 b are block diagrams illustrating particular examples of 1×2optical switches using variable blazed grating devices 10 coupled tooptical circulators. Optical switch 600 utilizes an optical input beam20 having a normal angle of incidence. In addition to blazed gratingdevice 10, optical switch 600 includes a circulator 602 coupled betweeninput beam 20 and strips 14 of blazed grating 10.

Optical switch 600 can switch input beam 20 to a first output 604 or asecond output 606, depending on the position of blazed grating 10. In areflection mode of operation, where blazed grating 10 resides atposition 14′, input optical beam 20 is reflected off of blazed grating10, and back to circulator 602 where the signal is routed to firstoutput 604. Optical switch 600 can switch input optical beam 20 tosecond output 606 by displacing blazed grating 10 to position 14″. Inthis position, a majority of input optical beam 20 will be diffracted ina single direction, in this case the direction indicated as output 606.For a given wavelength of optical input beam 20 and a given periodicityof blazed grating 10, an angle THETA can be selected to result in a fullwavelength phase difference between diffracted portions of input beam 20to result in a maximum input intensity.

FIG. 9 b illustrates an example of another 1×2 optical switch 610. Inthis case, optical switch 610 operates with a non-normal incidentoptical signal 20. In particular, optical switch 10 operates in theLittrow condition where the angle of incidence of optical beam 20 equalsthe angle of diffraction of the output rays.

In a reflection mode of operation, optical switch 610 can communicateoptical input beam 20 toward first output 614 by having that beamreflected off of blazed grating 10 positioned at location 14′. Opticalswitch 610 can also switch input optical beam 20 to second output 616 byoperating in a diffraction mode where blazed grating 10 is displaced toposition 14″, and input beam 20 is diffracted back toward a circulator612. Circulator 612 directs the output beam toward second output 616. Byusing non-normal angles of incidence, the angle THETA necessary toachieve the desired phase shift can be reduced as compared to otherconfigurations.

FIGS. 10 a-10 d are block diagrams illustrating various embodiments of2×2 optical switches constructed from variable blazed gratings andoptical circulators. FIGS. 10 a and 10 d show an embodiment using onenormal incident and one non-normal incident input signal. FIGS. 10 c and10 d show an embodiment using two non-normal incident input signals.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 a-10 b, 2×2 optical switch 700receives one optical input beam 20 a at a normal incident angle, andreceives another optical input beam 20 b at a non-normal incident angle.FIG. 10 a illustrates operation of 2×2 optical switch 700 in areflection mode. In reflection mode of operation, optical switch 700receives input optical beams 20 a and 20 b, and reflects each signal atan angle equal to its angle of incidence. In particular, blazed grating10 residing at position 14′ receives input optical beam 20 a at a normalincident angle and reflects that beam back to a circulator 702, whichdirects the beam to first output 704. In a similar manner, blazedgrating 10 residing at position 14′ receives input optical beam 20 b atangle PHI and reflects that signal toward a partially reflective surface711, which is positioned to reflect a signal back toward blazed grating10 at the same angle PHI and ultimately back to a circulator 708, whichdirects the beam to second output 706.

FIG. 10 b illustrates the same optical switch 700 operating in adiffraction mode. In diffraction mode, blazed grating 10 is displaced toposition 14″ at an angle THETA from position 14′. Blazed grating 10receives optical input beam 20 a and diffracts a majority of that beamtoward circulator 708, which directs that portion of the beam to output706. In a similar manner, blazed grating 10 positioned at location 14″receives input optical beam 20 b and diffracts a majority of that beamtoward circulator 702, which directs the beam toward output 704.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 c-10 d, 2×2 optical switch 700receives both optical input beams 20 a and 20 b at a non-normal incidentangle and operate in a Littrow condition. FIG. 10 c illustratesoperation of 2×2 optical switch 700 in a reflection mode. In reflectionmode of operation, optical switch 700 receives input optical beams 20 aand 20 b, and reflects each signal at an angle equal to its angle ofincidence. In particular, blazed grating 10 residing at position 14′receives input optical beams 20 a and 20 b at angle PHI and reflectsthose signals toward circulator 702 and 708. Circulators 702 and 708redirect the reflected signals from the path of input signals 20 a and20 b to avoid interference between the signals.

FIG. 10 d illustrates the same optical switch 700 operating in adiffraction mode in the Littrow condition. In diffraction mode, blazedgrating 10 is displaced to position 14″ at an angle THETA from position14′. Blazed grating 10 receives optical input beam 20 b and diffracts amajority of that beam back toward circulator 708, which directs thatportion of the beam to output 706. Blazed grating 10 positioned atlocation 14″ also receives input optical beam 20 a and diffracts amajority of that beam toward circulator 702, which directs the beamtoward output 704.

These examples show two particular configurations for using a blazedgrating as a 2×2 optical switch. It should be noted that any number of2×2 optical switches can be combined to form an array of n×n switches.Moreover, although particular configuration has been described withrespect to FIGS. 10 a-10 d, numerous modifications could be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. For example, switchesimplementing different geometric configurations, or different numbers ofblazed grating elements, circulators, reflective surfaces, or otheroptical elements are contemplated as being within the scope of theinvention.

FIGS. 11 a-11 h show illustrative examples of various embodiments ofoptical add/drop multiplexers using blazed grating technology coupledwith optical circulators. FIGS. 11 a-11 b show examples of a reflectionmode of operation and a diffraction mode of operation, respectively, ofone embodiment of an optical add/drop multiplexer 800 using a blazedgrating 10. In this embodiment, reflection mode of add/drop multiplexer800 corresponds to a pass-through mode of operation. In this example,blazed grating element 10 receives input optical beam 820 a at anon-normal incident angle PHI, and is operable to receive added opticalbeam 820 b at a normal incident angle. While blazed grating 10 residesat position 14′, input optical beam 820 a is reflected from to a mirror811, which reflects the signal back to blazed grating 10 and on to acirculator 806. Circulator 806 directs input optical beam 820 a tooutput port 806 for pass through operation.

This embodiment of add/drop multiplexer 800 facilitates add/dropoperation by operating in a diffraction mode. In this example, foroperation in add/drop mode, blazed grating 10 is displaced to position14″ at an angle THETA to its original position 14″. Input optical beam820 a impinges on blazed grating 10 at position 14″. The majority ofinput optical beam 20 a is diffracted in a single direction, in thiscase, toward circulator 802, which directs those diffracted portions ofinput beam 820 a toward drop port 806. Blazed grating residing atposition 14″ receives added optical signal 820 b and diffracts themajority of that signal toward circulator 808, which receives themajority portions of the diffracted added signal 820 b, and directsthose signal portions to output port 806.

Add/drop multiplexer 800 provides an advantage of facilitatingpass-through operation when no voltage is applied to blazed gratingelements 10. In this manner, multiplexer 800 facilitates some level offault tolerance, in the event of a failure of one or more blazed gratingelements 10.

FIGS. 11 c-11 d show additional examples of a reflection mode ofoperation and a diffraction mode of operation, respectively, of anotherembodiment of an optical add/drop multiplexer 805 using a blazed grating10. Add/drop multiplexer 805 is similar in structure and function toadd/drop multiplexer 800, but uses different ports for receiving inputand added signals 820 a, 820 b.

In this embodiment, reflection mode of add/drop multiplexer 805corresponds to an add/drop mode of operation. In this example, blazedgrating element 10 receives input optical beam 820 at a normal incidentangle, and receives added optical beam 820 b at a non-normal incidentangle PHI. With blazed grating 10 residing at position 14′, inputoptical beam 820 a is reflected back to a circulator 802, which directsinput optical beam 820 a to be dropped at port 804 blazed grating 10receives added optical beam 820 b at incident angle PHI, and reflectsthat beam toward a mirror 811. Mirror 811 reflects the beam back toblazed grating 10 at the same angle PHI, causing added signal 820 b tobe directed toward a circulator 808. Circulator 808 communicates addedsignal 820 b as output 806.

This embodiment of add/drop multiplexer 805 facilitates pass-throughoperation by operating in a diffraction mode. In this example, foroperation in pass-through mode, blazed grating 10 is displaced toposition 14″ at an angle THETA to its original position 14″. Inputoptical beam 820 a impinges on blazed grating 10 at position 14″. Themajority of input optical beam 20 a is diffracted in a single direction,in this case, toward circulator 808, which directs those diffractedportions of input beam 820 a toward output 806.

Although FIGS. 11 a-11 d depict configurations where circulator 802couples to drop port 804 and circulator 808 couples to output port 806,the invention also contemplates coupling circulator 802 to output port806 and coupling circulator 808 to drop port 804. In a manner analogousto that described above, input signal 820 a and added signal 820 b caneach be applied along the path of circulator 802 or circulator 808,depending on the particular device characteristics desired.

FIGS. 11 e-11 f show still another example of an add/drop multiplexer810 and its operation in a reflection mode and a diffraction mode,respectively. Optical add/drop multiplexer 810 operates to receive inputoptical beams at non-normal angles of incidence PHI. To operate in apass-through mode, optical add/drop multiplexer 810 operates inreflection mode. In that case, blazed grating 10 remains at position14′, where it receives optical input signal 820 a at incident angle PHI,and reflects that signal at an angle equal to 180° minus PHI toward acirculator 818. Circulator 818 receives optical input beam 820 a anddirects that beam toward an output 816.

FIG. 11 f shows the same optical add/drop multiplexer 810 operating in adiffraction mode of operation to effect dropping of the input opticalbeam 820 a in favor of an added optical beam 820 b. In particular, whenit is desired to drop input optical beam 820 a, blazed grating 10 isdisplaced to position 14″. Blazed grating 10 also receives added opticalbeam 820 b at incident angle PHI to the original position 14′. In thisparticular example, blazed grating 10 operates in the Littrow conditionsuch that the angle of incidence PHI of added signal 820 b equals theangle of diffraction of output rays 30 and 32. As a result, diffractedportions of added optical beam 820 b are communicated back towardcirculator 818, which directs those portions of added optical beam 820 bto an output 816.

Although FIGS. 11 e-11 f depict configurations where circulator 812couples to drop port 814 and circulator 818 couples to output port 816,the invention also contemplates coupling circulator 812 to output port816 and coupling circulator 818 to drop port 814. In a manner analogousto that described above, input signal 820 a and added signal 820 b caneach be applied along the path of circulator 812 or circulator 818,depending on the particular device characteristics desired.

FIGS. 11 g and 11 h are block diagrams showing still another embodimentof an optical add/drop multiplexer 850 implementing blazed gratingtechnology. In this example, add/drop multiplexer 850 includes twoblazed grating elements 810 a and 810 b, each communicating with one ofcirculators 812 and 818. Circulator 812 receives input signal 820 a andis coupled to a drop port 814, while circulator 818 receives addedsignal 820 b and is coupled to output port 816.

FIG. 11 g shows add/drop multiplexer 850 in a diffraction mode, which inthis case corresponds to a pass through mode of operation. In this modeof operation, circulator 812 passes input signal 820 a to blazed grating810 a residing at position 14″. A majority of input signal 820 a isdiffracted toward blazed grating 810 b, which also resides at position14″ and operates to diffract a majority of the signal received towardcirculator 818. Circulator 818 communicates the diffracted portions ofthe input signal 820 a to output port 816.

FIG. 11 h depicts add/drop multiplexer 850 in a reflection mode, whichin this case corresponds to an add/drop mode of operation. In this modeof operation, circulator 812 passes input signal 820 a to blazed grating810 a residing at position 14′, which reflects input signal 820 a backto circulator 812 and on to drop port 814. Circulator 818 passes addedsignal 820 b to blazed grating 810 b residing at position 14′. Blazedgrating 810 b reflects added signal 820 b back to circulator 818, whichdirects added signal 820 toward output port 816.

Again, the location of inputs for input signal 820 a and added signal820 b could be reversed without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition the connections of circulators 812 and 818 tooutput port 816 and drop port 814 could be reversed without departingfrom the scope of the invention. The application of input signals andadded signals to particular input ports and the designation ofparticular ports as either drop ports or output ports merely affects themodes of operation when blazed gratings 10 reside in reflection ordiffraction modes.

Another aspect of the invention involves constructing an array ofvariable blazed grating devices and coupling those devices to awavelength division demultiplexer to facilitate signal processing onewavelength or a subset of wavelengths using blazed grating technology.FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an array 510 of variable blazedgrating devices coupled to a wavelength division demultiplexer 535. Inthis example, array 510 is further coupled to a wavelength divisionmultiplexer 534.

In operation, wavelength division demultiplexer 535 receives an opticalinput signal 520 carrying a plurality of wavelength signals 520 a-520 n.In this disclosure, the term “wavelength signal” is used to denote asignal that is part of another signal carrying additional wavelengthsbeyond those carried in the “wavelength signal.” The term “wavelengthsignal” does not preclude that signal from itself carrying more than onewavelength of light. In other words, each “wavelength signal” can carryone or a number of wavelengths of light. Input signal 520 carries aplurality of wavelength signals 520 a-520 n, which may each carry one ormore wavlengths of light.

Wavelength division demultiplexer 535 separates the wavelength signals520 a-520 n and communicates at least some of those signals to array 510for processing. Wavelength signals 520 a-520 n communicated to array 510can undergo various signal processing, such as variable attenuation,optical switching, and/or add/drop multiplexing to name a few examples.Array 510 then communicates processed signals 520 a-520 n to an output.In this example, array 510 communicates those signals to wavelengthdivision multiplexer 534 for combination into a multiple-wavelengthoutput signal.

FIGS. 13-15 are block diagrams showing examples of particular systemsimplementing arrays of variable blazed grating devices coupled towavelength division demultiplexers.

FIGS. 13 a and 13 b are block diagrams showing examples of optical gainequalizers 525 and 545 using variable blazed grating technology.

FIG. 13 a is a block diagram illustrating an example of one possibleembodiment of an optical gain equalizer 525. In this example, opticalgain equalizer 525 includes a wavelength division demultiplexer 535operable to receive an optical signal 520 carrying a plurality ofindividual wavelength signals 520 a-520 n. Wavelength divisiondemultiplexer 535 separates optical signal 520 into its a plurality ofwavelength signals 520 a-520 n, each signal carrying one morewavelengths of light.

Optical gain equalizer 525 includes an array 510 of blazed gratingdevices 10 a-10 n. In this example, each blazed grating device 10operates to produce an output comprising a combination of diffractedoutput rays 530 and 532. Each blazed grating 10 can provide a selectedlevel of attenuation to the wavelength signal 520 a-n it receives,depending on control signals received by the device. As a particularexample, each blazed grating device 10 may comprise a plurality ofrotatable strips, and may operate to receive a control voltage thatcreates a voltage differential between some or all of the rotatablestrips and an inner conductive layer. This voltage differential can beselected to cause a rotation of the strips by an angle THETA, to createa desired phase difference between diffracted output rays 530 and 532,and a corresponding attenuation of the output beam comprising acombination of diffracted rays 530 and 532. Other blazed grating devicescould be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

In this embodiment, optical gain equalizer 525 further includes awavelength division demultiplexer 534 operable to receive signalsprocessed by blazed grating devices 10 and to multiplex individualwavelength signals into an optical output signal 536 carrying multiplewavelength signals. In this particular embodiment, reflective surfaces537 a-537 n assist in communicating processed signals from blazedgrating devices 10 to wavelength division multiplexer 534. Depending onthe desired configuration of blazed grating array 10 relative towavelength division demultiplexer 532 and wavelength divisionmultiplexer 534, various combinations of reflective surfaces and otheroptical communication devices may be implemented without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

Although the illustrated embodiment describes processing each wavelengthsignal 520 a-520 n, a bypass path could alternatively be providedbetween demultiplexer 523 and multiplexer 534 to facilitate bypassingblazed grating array 510 for those signals not intended to be processed.

FIG. 13 b provides another example of an optical gain equalizer 545using an array 510 of blazed gratings 10 a-10 n to facilitate variableattenuation of multiple wavelength signals. Gain equalizer 545 issimilar to gain equalizer 525, except gain equalizer 545 uses reflectedrays 524 as output signals, rather than diffracted rays 530, 532 as ingain equalizer 525.

Gain equalizer 545 includes a wavelength divisionmultiplexer/demultiplexer 555, which operates to receive a multiplewavelength signal 520 and to separate optical signal 520 into multiplewavelength signals 520 a-520 n, each carrying one or more wavelengths oflight. Each wavelength signal 520 a-520 n is communicated toward one ofblazed gratings 10 a-10 n. Blazed gratings 10 a-10 n can be controlledthrough application of control signals to vary the diffractionefficiency of the blazed grating and, therefore, control the intensityof the reflected output rays 524.

Wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer 555 receives reflectedrays 524 a-524 n, and multiplexes those wavelength signals into amultiple wavelength output signal 524. In this embodiment, a circulator542 receives output signal 524, and directs that signal away from thepath of input signal 520.

Constructing an optical gain equalizer using an array of blazed gratingelements provides significant advantages in facilitating large-scalereplication of each attenuation stage. For example, numerous blazedgrating stages can be simultaneously formed on a single semiconductorsubstrate to form an array of blazed grating devices operable to serveany number of individual wavelength signals. One aspect of theinvention, therefore, facilitates construction of gain equalizerscapable of processing numerous wavelengths for a small incremental costover a single stage of attenuators. This aspect of the inventionprovides significant cost savings in processing signals carryinginformation on multiple channels or wavelengths.

The novel configuration shown in FIG. 12 can also apply to an opticaladd/drop multiplexer design. FIG. 14 a is a block diagram illustratingone example embodiment of a wavelength division optical add/dropmultiplexer 900. In this example, wavelength division optical add/dropmultiplexer 900 includes a wavelength division demultiplexer 932operable to receive an optical signal 920 carrying a plurality ofindividual wavelength signals 920 a-920 n. Each individual wavelengthsignal 920 a-920 n carries one or more wavelengths of information.Wavelength division demultiplexer 932 communicates individual wavelengthsignals to an array 910 of optical add/drop multiplexers.

In this example, each add/drop multiplexer of array 910 is similar instructure and function to optical add/drop multiplexer 805 shown anddescribed with respect to FIGS. 12 c and 12 d. Other configurations ofoptical add/drop multiplexers using blazed grating technology couldalternatively be implemented without departing from the scope of theinvention. Wavelength division optical add/drop multiplexer alsoincludes a wavelength division multiplexer 934 operable to receiveprocessed signals from array 910 of optical add/drop multiplexers and tomultiplex those individual wavelength signals into an optical outputsignal 936 carrying a plurality of individual wavelength signals. Inoperation, wavelength division demultiplexer 932 receives optical signal920 and separates the individual wavelength signals 920 a-920 n. Again,each wavelength signal 920 a-920 n may include one or more wavelengthsof light. In a particular embodiment, wavelength signals not intended tobe processed may bypass array 910 of add/drop multiplexers forrecombination at multiplexer 934 without further processing.

Each of the wavelengths to be processed by array 910 is communicated toan optical add/drop multiplexer implementing a blazed grating 10.Optical add/drop multiplexers operate to either pass through thewavelength signals 920 a-920 n or to drop those signals at ports 938 infavor of added wavelength signals 940. Wavelength division multiplexer934 receives processed signals from array 910 and any signals thatbypassed array 910 and combines those signals into optical signal 936carrying a plurality of wavelength signals.

FIG. 14 b is a block diagram illustrating another example of awave-division optical add/drop multiplexer 950. Wave-division add/dropmultiplexer 950 is similar in operation to wave-division add/dropmultiplexer 900 shown in FIG. 13 a, except add/drop multiplexer 950 isconfigured to use common circulators 902 and 908 to be shared amongmultiple wavelength signals.

Like add/drop multiplexer 900, add drop multiplexer 950 includes awavelength division demultiplexer 932 operable to receive a multiplewavelength input signal 920 and to separate that signal into a pluralityof wavelength signals 920 a-920 n, each carrying one or more wavelengthsof light. Add/drop multiplexer 950 also includes a wave-divisionmultiplexer/demultiplexer 935 operable to receive an added signal 940containing a plurality of added wavelength signals 940 a-940 n, and toseparate the constituent added wavelength signals 940 a-940 n.

Add/drop multiplexer 950 further includes an array 910 of blazedgratings 10 a-10 n. Each blazed grating 10 is operable to receive one ofthe wavelength signals 920 a-920 n from demultiplexer 932 and an addedsignal 940 a-940 n from wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer935. Depending on the position of each of blazed gratings 10, either theinput wavelengths 920 or the added signals 940 received can selectivelybe communicated toward multiplexer/demultiplexer 935 for communicationto a circulator 902 and on to output port 936. Where variable blazedgrating 10 operates to reflect or diffract signals back in the directionof any input signal to the system, circulators could be used to redirectthe reflected or diffracted signals to enhance system performance. Thisembodiment provides an advantage of reducing the number of circulatorsby sharing circulators among a plurality of wavelengths. A similarembodiment could be constructed using multiple arrays of blazed gratingsarranged similarly to add/drop multiplexer 850 shown in FIGS. 11 g-11 h.

As in the case of the blazed grating based gain equalizer, the blazedgrating based wavelength division optical add/drop multiplexer providessignificant economies over other approaches. For example, byfacilitating fabrication of arrays of blazed grating elements at afraction of the cost of fabricating a single device, this aspect of theinvention provides significant cost savings in processing signalscarrying information on multiple channels or wavelengths.

The novel configuration shown in FIG. 12 can also apply to anelectro-optic switching system. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of anexemplary electro-optic switch 1000. Electro-optic router 1000 mayinclude one or more optical amplifiers 1010. In the illustratedembodiment, an optical amplifier 1010 resides at the ingress end of theswitch, which receives optical signals 1012 over a communication link1020. Electro-optic switch 1000 could also or alternatively includeoptical amplifiers at the egress end of the switch, or at various otherpoints within the switch. Optical amplifiers 1010 compensate for lossesin the signal and line rates of, for example, OC-48 and OC-192 orhigher. In the illustrated embodiment, communication link 1020 comprisesa single mode fiber carrying, for example, 100 wavelengths ranging from1500 to 1600 nanometers and 2.5 Gb/s or 10 Gb/s per channel.

Optical signal 1012 comprises header information 1014 and signal payload1016. Electro-optic switch includes a fiber optic tap operable tocommunicate a first portion of optical signal 1012 to a delay line 1022and a second portion of optical signal 1012 to a demultiplexer 1024. Inthe illustrated embodiment, demultiplexer 1024 may comprise, forexample, a wavelength grating router, operable to split the incomingsignal into a plurality of wavelengths and send the plurality ofwavelengths to an array of wavelength detectors 1026.

Electro-optic switch 1000 also includes an electronic processor 1028operable to receive optical signals from detectors 1026, to convert theoptical signals to electronic signals, and perform various switching,routing, or other processing functions on the converted electronicsignals. Electronic processor 1028 is further operable to convertprocessed electronic signals into optical signals for transmission to anoptical add/drop multiplexer array 1030.

Electro-optic switch 1000 further includes a demultiplexer coupled todelay line 1022. In this embodiment, demultiplexer 1032 comprises one ormore wavelength grating routers. Both demultiplexer 1032 and electronicprocessor 1028 communicate with an optical add/drop multiplexer array1030. In this example, optical add/drop multiplexer array 1030 comprisesan array of blazed grating based add/drop multiplexers, such as thosedescribed with respect to FIGS. 12 a-12 h.

Each optical add/drop multiplexer of array 1030 receives processedoptical header information from electronic processor 1028 and opticalpayload information from delay line 1022, and performs various switchingfunctions on those signals. A multiplexer 1036 receives switched opticalsignals from optical add/drop multiplexer array 1030 and transmitsswitched optical signals 1040 to other network elements.

In operation, electro-optical switch 1000 receives a plurality ofoptical signals 1012 and depending on, for example, the signal and linerates, may amplify those signals at optical amplifier 1010. Fiber optictap 1018 receives optical signals 1012 and sends one copy of the signalincluding at least header information 1014 to demultiplexer 1024, andsends another copy of the signal including at least payload information1016 to delay line 1022.

Delay line 1022 serves as a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer. The FIFObuffer length is set so as to provide enough time for electronicprocessor 1028 to process the various header information 1014. Whilepayload information 1016 is delayed in FIFO buffer 1022, electronicprocessor 1028 converts optical header information 1014 into electronicsignals, and performs various processing on that header information.After completing processing of the electronic header information,electronic processor 1028 converts the electronic header informationback into one or more optical signals and transmits those signals tooptical add/drop multiplexer array 1030.

Optical add/drop multiplexer array 1030 receives processed headerinformation and unprocessed payload information 1016, and associates therelated payload and header information. Optical add/drop multiplexerarray 1030 then switches the processed optical signals at rates ranging,for example, from approximately 10 to 100 nanoseconds or longer.Multiplexer 1036 receives switched optical signals 1040 from opticaladd/drop multiplexer array 1030 and transmits the switched opticalsignals to other network elements.

By transmitting the optical payload information transparently toelectronic processor 1028, electro-optical switch 1000 advantageouslyfacilitates field coding. As such, header information can beelectronically processed at rates on the order of 2.5 Gigabytes persecond, while transparent optical payload information communicates atrates of 10 Gigabytes per second or higher. Electro-optic switch 1000also facilitates parallel processing of multiple wavelength channels,increasing the speed and efficiency of the switch. In a particularembodiment, differential logic such as Manchester coding can be used tocompensate for switching contrast ratio.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating one example of a method 400 ofoptical signal processing using a variable blazed grating basedapparatus. Although specific examples of this method use blazed grating100 as a particular illustrative embodiment, the method could also beapplied to other blazed grating devices, such as those depicted in FIGS.2-7, as well as systems such as those shown in FIGS. 8-15, andvariations of those devices and systems.

In this example, the method 400 begins at step 410 where blazed gratingdevice 10 receives a first optical signal while residing at a firstposition 14′. In one particular example, blazed grating 10 couldcomprise a plurality of at least partially reflective adjacent mirrorstrips 14. To enhance system speed and flexibility, in one embodiment,each of the strips could be constructed to have a width of no more than40 microns. While residing at position 14′, mirror strips 14 comprisingthis example of variable blazed grating 10 may reside approximatelyparallel to an inner conductive layer. In another mode of operation,blazed grating 10 can reside at a second position 141″, rotated by anangle THETA from the first position 14′.

While blazed grating 10 resides in the first position 14′, it operatesto reflect the first optical signal in a first direction at step 420.Where first optical signal comprises a normal incident signal, blazedgrating 10 operates to reflect signal 20 back in the direction fromwhich it came. Where first optical signal comprises a non-normalincident signal, blazed grating 10 may operate to reflect signal 20 atan angle equal to 180 degrees minus the angle of incidence betweensignal 20 and strips 14 at position 14′.

At any desired time, blazed grating 10 can be displaced to secondposition 14″ at step 430. As discussed above, while in second position14″, blazed grating 10 resides at an angle THETA from position 14′.While blazed grating 10 resides in second position 14″, it diffracts amajority of the first optical signal 20 in a second direction at step440. Where first optical signal 20 comprises a normal incident signal,blazed grating 10 may diffract a majority of signal 20 at an outputangle as shown by output rays 30 and 32 in FIG. 1 b. Where input signal20 comprises a non-normal incident signal, blazed grating 10 at position14″ may operate to diffract signal portions 30 and 32 as shown, forexample, in FIG. 1 c. FIG. 1 c illustrates the Littrow condition,wherein the angle of diffraction equals the angle of incidence ofoptical signal 20 to blazed grating 10 at position 14″. In any case,output rays 30 and 32 exhibit a phase difference that results in aconstructive or a destructive interference between those diffractedsignal portions.

Where variable blazed grating 10 operates to reflect or diffract signalsback in the direction of any input signal to the system, circulatorscould be used to redirect the reflected or diffracted signals to enhancesystem performance.

In one aspect of operation, blazed grating device 10 can operate as avariable attenuator by controlling angle THETA to result in a particularphase difference between portions of the majority of the diffractedbeam. In another aspect of operation, blazed grating device 10 canoperate as an optical switch. In that case, it may be desirable tocreate a phase difference between diffracted output rays 30 and 32resulting in a constructive interference between those beam portions tomaximize the output signal.

Method 400 applies not only to variable attenuators and 1×2 opticalswitches, but also to n×n optical switches and optical add/dropmultiplexers. For example, method 400 may continue at step 450 whereblazed grating device 10 receives a second optical signal. While blazedgrating 10 resides in first position 14′, it may reflect a secondoptical signal in a second direction at step 460. For example, as shownin FIGS. 12 a-12 b, blazed grating 10 residing at position 14′ mayreflect first input signal 20 a back to circulator 702 and reflectsecond input signal 20 b to second circulator 708. In the case of anoptical ad/drop multiplexer, for example, FIGS. 12 a, 12 c, and 12 eshow that input signals and added signals 820 a and 820 b are reflectedby blazed grating 10 at position 14′ to circulators 802 and 806 toresult in pass-through or add/drop operation, depending on theconfiguration of the input signals relative to circulators 802 and 808.

While blazed grating 10 is displaced to position 14″, blazed grating 10diffracts a majority of the second optical signal in the first directionat step 470. In the case of an optical switch, as shown in FIGS. 12 a-12b, when blazed grating 10 is displaced to position 14″, it diffracts amajority of first input signal 20 a toward second circulator 708, whilediffracting a majority of second input signal 20 b toward firstcirculator 702. In the case of an add/drop multiplexer, as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 12 b, 12 d, and 12 f, input and added signals 820 aand 820 b (which may vary depending on the configuration) can beselectively added or passed through by diffracting the majority of thesignals toward circulators 802 and 808.

Although this method has been described by referencing particularexamples of variable attenuators, optical switches, and optical add/dropmultiplexers, various substitutions, alterations and modifications canbe made to the configurations described herein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

Although various aspects of the present invention have been described inseveral embodiments, a myriad of changes, variations, alterations,transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled inthe art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass suchchanges, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications asfall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing, theapparatus comprising: an inner conductive layer comprising an at leastsubstantially conductive material and a plurality of electricallycoupled first conductors; and a plurality of at least partiallyreflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductivelayer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none ofthe plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns and whereinat least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotationin response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in areflection of the input optical signal wherein a majority of thereflected input signal is communicated in one direction; wherein each ofthe plurality of electrically coupled first conductors are associatedwith a separate one of at least some of the plurality of at leastpartially reflective mirror strips and disposed approximately inwardlyfrom a first edge of the associated mirror strip; and wherein thecontrol signal comprises a voltage operable to create one of a pluralityof selectable non-zero voltage differentials between the innerconductive layer and at least the first edges of the associated mirrorstrips to create an electrostatic force tending to rotate the firstedges of the mirror strips toward the associated first conductorresulting in one of a plurality of selectable angles of rotation of themirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality of selectableattenuations of the input signal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe inner conductive layer further comprises a plurality of electricallycoupled second conductors, each associated with alternate ones of themirror strips and disposed inwardly from at least a second edge oppositethe first edge of the alternate mirror strips, wherein the secondconductors operate to facilitate a voltage differential between thesecond conductors and the associated alternate mirror strips to createan electrostatic force tending to move the alternate strips inwardlyrelative to strips adjacent to the alternate mirror strips.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation of the strips creates aperiodicity of the apparatus wherein an angle of reflection of thereflected signal portions is approximately equal to an angle ofincidence of the input optical signal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the partial rotation causes a majority of reflected portions ofthe input signal to constructively interfere with one another after thestrips have been partially rotated to result in an output port switchingfrom receiving approximately no signal to receiving the combination ofconstructively interfering reflected signal portions.
 5. A method ofprocessing optical signals using a blazed structure, the methodcomprising: receiving an optical signal at a plurality of at leastpartially reflective mirror strips residing in a first positionoutwardly from an inner conductive layer, wherein none of the pluralityof strips has a width of more than 40 microns; and rotating the mirrorstrips by an angle THETA from the first position in response to acontrol signal to create a plurality of reflected signal portions, themajority of the reflected signal portions being reflected in onedirection, wherein the inner conductive layer comprises a plurality ofelectrically coupled first conductors, each associated with a separatemirror strip and disposed approximately inwardly from a first edge ofthe associated strip, wherein rotating the mirror strips comprisesapplying one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentialsbetween at least a first edge of each of the mirror strips and an innerconductive layer disposed inwardly from the first edges of the mirrorstrips, the voltage differential creating an electrostatic force tendingto rotate the first edge toward the inner conductive layer; wherein thecontrol signal comprises a voltage operable to create the one of theplurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentials between the atleast the first edges of the mirror strips and the inner conductivelayer to result in one of a plurality of selectable angles attenuatinsof the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality ofselectable attenuations of the input signal.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the inner conductive layer further comprises a plurality ofelectrically coupled second conductors, each associated with alternateones of the mirror strips and disposed inwardly from at least a secondedge opposite the first edge of the alternate mirror strips, wherein thesecond conductors operate to facilitate a voltage differential betweenthe second conductors and the associate alternate mirror strips tocreate an electrostatic force tending to move the alternate stripsinwardly relative to strips adjacent to the alternate mirror strips. 7.The method of claim 5, wherein the angle THETA results in a periodicityof the apparatus wherein an angle of reflection of the reflected signalportions is approximately equal to an angle of incidence of the inputoptical signal.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the partial rotationcauses a majority of reflected portions of the input signalconstructively interfere with one another after the strips have beenpartially rotated to result in an output port switching from receivingapproximately no signal to receiving the combination of constructivelyinterfering reflected signal portions.
 9. An apparatus operable toprovide optical signal processing, the apparatus comprising: innerconductive layer comprising an at least substantially conductivematerial and a plurality of electrically coupled first conductors; and aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposedoutwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive aninput optical signal, wherein at least some of the plurality of at leastpartially reflective mirror strips comprise a width that is at least 12microns and no more than 40 microns, and wherein at least some of thestrips are operable to undergo a partial rotation of more than twodegrees in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resultingin a reflection of the input optical signal wherein a majority of thereflected input signal is communicated in one direction; wherein each ofthe plurality of electrically coupled first conductors are associatedwith a separate one of the plurality of at least partially reflectivemirror strips and disposed approximately inwardly from a first edge ofthe associated mirror strip; and wherein the control signal creates atleast one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentialsbetween the inner conductive layer and at least the first edges of theassociated mirror strips to create an electrostatic force tending torotate the first edges of the mirror strips toward the associated firstconductor resulting in one of a plurality of selectable angles ofrotation of the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality ofselectable attenuations of the input signal.
 10. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the input optical signal comprises a multiple wavelengthoptical signal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein selected angles ofrotation resulting from the control signal for at least some of theplurality of strips are different than selected angles of rotation forothers of the plurality of strips.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe inner conductive layer comprises a plurality of separate conductivestructures, each associated with a separate one of the plurality ofreflective mirror strips.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at leastone of the plurality of selectable attenuations comprises an attenuationof an output ray of the optical signal.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein at least one of the plurality of selectable attenuationscomprises an approximately zero level of attenuation in at least oneoutput ray of the optical signal considered after any insertion lossesof the apparatus, and wherein at least one of the selectableattenuations comprises an approximately full attenuation in at least oneoutput ray of the optical signal.
 15. A method of processing opticalsignals using a blazed structure, the method comprising: receiving anoptical signal at a plurality of at least partially reflective mirrorstrips residing in a first position and disposed outwardly from an innerconductive layer; and rotating at least one of the plurality of mirrorstrips from the first position in response to a control signal to createa plurality of reflected signal portions, the majority of the reflectedsignal portions being reflected in one direction, the strips having amaximum rotation angle that is greater than two degrees, whereinrotating at least one of the plurality of mirror strips comprisesapplying one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentialsbetween at least a first edge of each mirror strip and an innerconductive layer disposed inwardly from the first edges of the mirrorstrips, the voltage differential creating an electrostatic force tendingto rotate the first edge toward the inner conductive layer; wherein thecontrol signal creates at least the one of the plurality of selectablenon-zero voltage differentials between the at least the first edges ofthe mirror strips and the inner conductive layer to result in one of aplurality of selectable angles of rotation of the mirror strips, and acorresponding one of a plurality of selectable attenuations of the inputsignal; and wherein at least some of the plurality of at least partiallyreflective mirror strips comprise a width that is at least 12 micronsand no more than 40 microns.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theinput optical signal comprises a multiple wavelength optical signal. 17.The method of claim 15, wherein selected angles of rotation resultingfrom the control signal for at least some of the plurality of strips aredifferent than selected angles of rotation for others of the pluralityof strips.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the inner conductivelayer comprises a plurality of separate conductive structures, eachassociated with a separate one of the plurality of reflective mirrorstrips.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of theplurality of selectable attenuations comprises an attenuation of anoutput ray of the optical signal.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein atleast one of the plurality of selectable attenuations comprises anapproximately zero level of attenuation in at least one output ray ofthe optical signal considered after any insertion losses of theapparatus, and wherein at least one of the selectable attenuationscomprises an approximately full attenuation in at least one output rayof the optical signal.
 21. An apparatus operable to provide opticalsignal processing, the apparatus comprising: an inner conductive layercomprising an at least substantially conductive material; and aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposedoutwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive aninput optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has awidth greater than 40 microns and wherein at least some of the stripsare operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a controlsignal, the partial rotation resulting in a reflection of the inputoptical signal wherein a majority of the reflected input signal iscommunicated in one direction; wherein each of the mirror stripscomprises: a layer of electrically insulating material; a first portionof at least partially reflective and at least substantially conductivematerial disposed outwardly from a first edge of the insulating layer; asecond portion of at least partially reflective material disposedoutwardly from the insulating layer and separated from the first portionby a channel; wherein a voltage differential between the first portionand the inner conductive layer operates to create an electrostatic forcebetween the first portion and the inner conductive layer tending torotate the first portion toward the inner conductive layer.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the second portion is electricallycoupled to the inner conductive layer.
 23. An apparatus operable toprovide optical signal processing, the apparatus comprising: an innerconductive layer comprising an at least substantially conductivematerial; and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror stripsdisposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable toreceive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of stripshas a width greater than 40 microns and wherein at least some of thestrips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to acontrol signal, the partial rotation resulting in a reflection of theinput optical signal wherein a majority of the reflected input signal iscommunicated in one direction; wherein each of the mirror stripscomprises: an inner surface facing the inner conductive layer; and anouter surface joining the inner surface at an angle, wherein the outersurfaces of two adjacent strips are each operable to receive a portionof an optical input signal and to reflect the received portion at anoutput angle; and wherein alternate ones of the mirror strips areoperable to move relative to adjacent mirror strips by a selecteddistance to create a desired phase difference between the reflected beamportions.
 24. A method of processing optical signals using a blazedstructure, the method comprising: receiving an optical signal at aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips residing in afirst position, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width ofmore than 40 microns; and rotating the mirror strips by an angle THETAfrom the first position to create a plurality of reflected signalportions, the majority of the reflected signal portions being reflectedin one direction; wherein each of the mirror strips comprises: a layerof electrically insulating material; a first portion of at leastpartially reflective and at least substantially conductive materialdisposed outwardly from a first edge of the insulating layer; a secondportion of at least partially reflective material disposed outwardlyfrom the insulating layer and separated from the first portion by achannel; and wherein a voltage differential between the first portionand the inner conductive layer operates to create an electrostatic forcebetween the first portion and the inner conductive layer tending torotate the first portion toward the inner conductive layer.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, wherein the second portion is electrically coupledto the inner conductive layer.
 26. A method of processing opticalsignals using a blazed structure, the method comprising: receiving anoptical signal at a plurality of at least partially reflective mirrorstrips residing in a first position, wherein none of the plurality ofstrips has a width of more than 40 microns; and rotating the mirrorstrips by an angle THETA from the first position to create a pluralityof reflected signal portions, the majority of the reflected signalportions being reflected in one direction; wherein each of the mirrorstrips comprises: an inner surface facing the inner conductive layer;and an outer surface joining the inner surface at an angle, wherein theouter surfaces of two adjacent strips are each operable to receive aportion of an optical input signal and to reflect the received portionat an output angle; and wherein alternate ones of the mirror strips areoperable to move relative to adjacent mirror strips by a selecteddistance to create a desired phase difference between the reflected beamportions.
 27. An apparatus operable to provide optical signalprocessing, the apparatus comprising: an inner conductive layercomprising an at least substantially conductive material; and aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposedoutwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive aninput optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has awidth greater than 40 microns and wherein at least some of the stripsare operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a controlsignal, the partial rotation resulting in a reflection of the inputoptical signal wherein a majority of the reflected input signal iscommunicated in one direction; wherein the control signal comprises avoltage operable to create one of a plurality of selectable non-zerovoltage differentials between the mirror strips and the inner conductivelayer to result in one of a plurality of selectable angles of rotationof the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality ofselectable attenuations of the input signal; and wherein the innerconductive layer comprises a continuous layer of an at leastsubstantially conductive material disposed inwardly from the pluralityof mirror strips.
 28. A method of processing optical signals using ablazed structure, the method comprising: receiving an optical signal ata plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips residing in afirst position outwardly from an inner conductive layer, wherein none ofthe plurality of strips has a width of more than 40 microns; androtating the mirror strips by an angle THETA from the first position inresponse to a control signal to create a plurality of reflected signalportions, the majority of the reflected signal portions being reflectedin one direction; wherein the control signal comprises a voltageoperable to create one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltagedifferentials between the mirror strips and the inner conductive layerto result in one of a plurality of selectable angles of rotation of themirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality of selectableattenuations of the input signal; and wherein the inner conductive layercomprises a continuous layer of an at least substantially conductivematerial disposed inwardly from the plurality of mirror strips.
 29. Anapparatus operable to provide optical signal processing, the apparatuscomprising: an inner conductive layer comprising an at leastsubstantially conductive material and a plurality of electricallycoupled first conductors; and a plurality of at least partiallyreflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductivelayer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein at leastsome of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation of morethan two degrees in response to a control signal, the partial rotationresulting in a reflection of the input optical signal wherein a majorityof the reflected input signal is communicated in one direction; whereineach of the plurality of electrically coupled first conductors areassociated with a separate one of at least some of the plurality of atleast partially reflective mirror strips and disposed approximatelyinwardly from a first edge of the associated mirror strip; and whereinthe control signal creates at least one of a plurality of selectablenon-zero voltage differentials between the inner conductive layer and atleast the first edges of the associated mirror strips to create anelectrostatic force tending to rotate the first edges of the mirrorstrips toward the associated first conductor resulting in one of aplurality of selectable angles of rotation of the mirror strips, and acorresponding one of a plurality of selectable attenuations of the inputsignal; and wherein the one direction comprises an output fiber from theapparatus.
 30. A method of processing optical signals using a blazedstructure, the method comprising: receiving an optical signal at aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips residing in afirst position and disposed outwardly from an inner conductive layer;and rotating at least one of the plurality of mirror strips from thefirst position in response to a control signal to create a plurality ofreflected signal portions, the majority of the reflected signal portionsbeing reflected in one direction, the strips having a maximum rotationangle that is greater than two degrees, wherein rotating at least one ofthe plurality of mirror strips comprises applying one of a plurality ofselectable non-zero voltage differentials between at least a first edgeof each mirror strip and an inner conductive layer disposed inwardlyfrom the first edges of the mirror strips the voltage differentialcreating an electrostatic force tending to rotate the first edge towardthe inner conductive layer; wherein the control signal creates the oneof the plurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentials betweenthe at least the first edges of the mirror strips and the innerconductive layer to result in one of a plurality of selectable angles ofrotation of the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality ofselectable attenuations of the input signal; and wherein the onedirection comprises an output fiber from the apparatus.
 31. An apparatusoperable to provide optical signal processing, the apparatus comprising:an inner conductive layer comprising an at least substantiallyconductive material; and a plurality of at least partially reflectivemirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer andoperable to receive an input optical signal, wherein at least some ofthe strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation of more than twodegrees in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resultingin a reflection of the input optical signal wherein a majority of thereflected input signal is communicated in one direction, and whereineach of the mirror strips comprises: a layer of electrically insulatingmaterial; a first portion of at least partially reflective and at leastsubstantially conductive material disposed outwardly from a first edgeof the insulating layer; a second portion of at least partiallyreflective material disposed outwardly from the insulating layer andseparated from the first portion by a channel; and wherein the controlsignal creates one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltagedifferentials between the first portion and the inner conductive layertending to rotate the first portion toward the inner conductive layerresulting in one of a plurality of selectable angles of rotation of themirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality of selectableattenuations of the input signal.
 32. An apparatus operable to provideoptical signal processing, the apparatus comprising: an inner conductivelayer comprising an at least substantially conductive material; and aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposedoutwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive aninput optical signal, wherein at least some of the strips are operableto undergo a partial rotation of more than two degrees in response to acontrol signal, the partial rotation resulting in a reflection of theinput optical signal wherein a majority of the reflected input signal iscommunicated in one direction, wherein each of the mirror stripscomprises: an inner surface facing the inner conductive layer; and anouter surface joining the inner surface at an angle, wherein the outersurfaces of two adjacent strips are each operable to receive a portionof an optical input signal and to reflect the received portion at anoutput angle; wherein alternate ones of the mirror strips are operableto move relative to adjacent mirror strips by a selected distance tocreate a desired phase difference between the reflected beam portions;and wherein the control signal creates at least one of a plurality ofselectable non-zero voltage differentials between the mirror strips andthe inner conductive layer to result in one of a plurality of selectableangles of rotation of the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of aplurality of selectable attenuations of the input signal.
 33. Anapparatus operable to provide optical signal processing, the apparatuscomprising: an inner conductive layer comprising an at leastsubstantially conductive material; and a plurality of at least partiallyreflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductivelayer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none ofthe plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns and whereinat least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotationin response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in areflection of the input optical signal wherein a majority of thereflected input signal is communicated in one direction; wherein thecontrol signal comprises a voltage operable to create one of a pluralityof selectable non-zero voltage differentials between the mirror stripsand the inner conductive layer to result in one of a plurality ofselectable angles of rotation of the mirror strips, and a correspondingone of a plurality of selectable attenuations of the input signal; andwherein the rotation of the mirror strips creates a periodicity of theapparatus wherein an angle of reflection of the reflected signalportions is approximately equal to an angle of incidence of the inputoptical signal.
 34. An apparatus operable to provide optical signalprocessing, the apparatus comprising: an inner conductive layercomprising an at least substantially conductive material; and aplurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposedoutwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive aninput optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has awidth greater than 40 microns and wherein at least some of the stripsare operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a controlsignal, the partial rotation resulting in a reflection of the inputoptical signal wherein a majority of the reflected input signal iscommunicated in one direction; wherein the control signal comprises avoltage operable to create one of a plurality of selectable non-zerovoltage differentials between the mirror strips and the inner conductivelayer to result in one of a plurality of selectable angles of rotationof the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality ofselectable attenuations of the input signal; and wherein the partialrotation causes a majority of reflected portions of the input signal toconstructively interfere with one another after the mirror strips havebeen partially rotated to result in an output port switching fromreceiving approximately no signal to receiving the combination ofconstructively interfering reflected signal portions.
 35. A method ofprocessing optical signals using a blazed structure, the methodcomprising: receiving an optical signal at a plurality of at leastpartially reflective mirror strips residing in a first positionoutwardly from an inner conductive layer, wherein none of the pluralityof strips has a width of more than 40 microns; and rotating the mirrorstrips by an angle THETA from the first position in response to acontrol signal to create a plurality of reflected signal portions, themajority of the reflected signal portions being reflected in onedirection; wherein the control signal comprises a voltage operable tocreate one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentialsbetween the mirror strips and the inner conductive layer to result inone of a plurality of selectable angles of rotation of the mirrorstrips, and a corresponding one of a plurality of selectableattenuations of the input signal; and wherein the angle THETA results ina periodicity of the apparatus wherein an angle of reflection of thereflected signal portions is approximately equal to an angle ofincidence of the input optical signal.
 36. A method of processingoptical signals using a blazed structure, the method comprising:receiving an optical signal at a plurality of at least partiallyreflective mirror strips residing in a first position outwardly from aninner conductive layer, wherein none of the plurality of strips has awidth of more than 40 microns; and rotating the mirror strips by anangle THETA from the first position in response to a control signal tocreate a plurality of reflected signal portions, the majority of thereflected signal portions being reflected in one direction; wherein thecontrol signal comprises a voltage operable to create one of a pluralityof selectable non-zero voltage differentials between the mirror stripsand the inner conductive layer to result in one of a plurality ofselectable angles of rotation of the mirror strips, and a correspondingone of a plurality of selectable attenuations of the input signal; andwherein the partial rotation causes a majority of reflected portions ofthe input signal constructively interfere with one another after thestrips have been partially rotated to result in an output port switchingfrom receiving approximately no signal to receiving the combination ofconstructively interfering reflected signal portions.